What is a charity?A charity is a voluntary organization which is set up in order to do good. Charities aim not only to help and support people but also animals, the environment, etc. In size they range from small, local organizations (which provide support on a local basis and are usually staffed by unpaid volunteers drawn from the immediate area) to large, international organizations who have salaried professionals working for them as well as a global network of volunteers. Such organizations provide support on an international basis and deal with global problems.

What do charities do?Charities have a variety of roles in the world today covering almost every aspect of human life. They provide food, medicine, bandages, prosthetic limbs, vaccination programmes, neo-natal care, water, irrigation systems, school-teachers, shelters, blankets, shoes, clothing and much, much more. They work hard to raise public awareness of the problems faced by many people in the world today and to raise money to meet the basic requirements of those in need. Many charities also respond promptly in disaster situations, sending emergency supplies to the worst-hit areas with impressive speed.

Other charities work in less dramatic surroundings, quietly looking after the elderly and infirm, supporting the terminally ill and caring for the depressed, suicidal and the mentally ill.

Charities concerned with animals and the environment are actively involved in rescuing and caring for abandoned, abused or over-worked animals, protecting wild animals and their habitats and lobbying the relevant authorities in order to get governmental policies (and national and international laws) changed for the good of the planet and its flora and fauna.

SummaryIn the past, charities, voluntary organizations and religious organizations were the main (if not the only) providers of social services in the local, national and global community. However, things began to change with the dawning of the 20th century. Many governments in developed countries began to take on more responsibility for society’s problems: the ‘Welfare State’ had arrived. Governments instigated welfare programmes in which healthcare, education and housing became more and more available to the poorest elements of society. People needed to rely less and less on charitable foundations. Nowadays, countries with highly developed and efficiently-run welfare states have fewer home-grown voluntary organizations because the needs they would meet are already covered by their government’s welfare policies.

Quick Quiz: Read the clues below and write the solutions on a piece of paper. Then take the first letter of each answer and rearrange them to find the hidden word connected with this Talking Point.

1. Charities aim not only to help and support __________ but also animals, the environment, etc.

2. Small, local organizations are usually staffed by __________ volunteers.

3. Charities have a variety of roles in the world today covering almost every aspect of human __________.

4. Charities work __________ to raise public awareness of the problems faced by many people in the world today.

5. Many charities also respond promptly in disaster situations, sending __________ supplies to the worst-hit areas with impressive speed.

6. Charities concerned with animals and the environment are actively involved in __________ the relevant authorities in order to get governmental policies (and national and international laws) changed.

7. Nowadays, countries with highly developed and efficiently-run welfare states have __________ home-grown voluntary organizations because the needs they would meet are already covered by their government’s welfare policies.